Classifications

• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A47—FURNITURE; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
  • A47B—TABLES; DESKS; OFFICE FURNITURE; CABINETS; DRAWERS; GENERAL DETAILS OF FURNITURE
  • A47B21/00—Tables or desks for office equipment, e.g. typewriters, keyboards
  • A47B21/007—Tables or desks for office equipment, e.g. typewriters, keyboards with under-desk displays, e.g. displays being viewable through a transparent working surface of the table or desk

Definitions

• the present invention relates to a computer table element, comprising a body, a sliding keyboard panel having an extended working position and a retracted storage position, a bearer mounted pivotably on the body for supporting a flat-panel display in various positions, means for transmitting a movement of the keyboard panel to the bearer.
• the body has its bottom portion fitted with bracing walls, which are formed with slots that are in turn adapted to have a display bearer mounted thereon by means of studs fitting in the slots. There are several slots in the bracing walls, whereby the bearer and the display can be secured at a desired height and at a desired angle.
• the keyboard panel comprises a separate panel extensible from below the tabletop.
• the present invention is characterized in that the means include a swing arm, which is connected by a first pivot joint to the bearer's bottom portion and the turning of which makes the display bearer pivotable for reducing an angle between the display and a vertical plane, i.e. the display swivels towards the vertical plane as the keyboard panel travels from the working position to the storage position, and that the computer table element includes a front cover mounted removably or permanently on the swing arm, and that the front cover is adapted to swivel together with the swing arm.
• Fig. 1 shows a schematic plan view of a computer table element in a working position.
• Fig. 2 shows a computer table element in a working position in a section along a line II-II in fig. 1.
• Fig. 2A shows a partial enlargement of a detail IIA in fig. 2.
• Fig. 3 shows a schematic side view of a computer table element in a storage position.
• Fig. 4A shows a side view of a computer table element (not showing a keyboard panel) of another embodiment in a working position
• Fig. 4B shows the computer table element of fig. 4A in a storage position.
• figs. 1 and 2 illustrate in a plan view and in a side view, respectively, a computer table element, designated with reference numeral 1, in a working position.
• the element 1 comprises a body 2.
• the body 2 is folded for example from sheet metal for providing a rectangular frame. It has two sets of elongated side members 2a, connected at one of the ends thereof by an elongated cross member 2b which constitutes a rear portion of the body.
• the width of the element is defined by the length of the cross member.
• the body has its front portion provided with a cross member 2c, which is limited to the plane of the element's top surface and which is depicted in a cut-away view for visualising the components below.
• the body 2 can be attached by its side members 2a to side walls defining a working space 20 (leg room).
• On top of the upper lips of the side members 2a and the cross members 2b, 2c can be fitted for example a glass panel (not shown), which forms a table top and constitutes a worktop having a width substantially equal to that of the element 1.
• a glass panel not shown
• a keyboard panel 3 movable in the depth direction of the worktop. It is adapted to travel between the side members 2a, preferably by means of roller or slide tracks 3a fastened to the side members 2a.
• the tracks 3a are located in the proximity of the worktop below the worktop.
• 1 is a keyboard panel 3, which is partly extended from below the worktop to its working position. In the working position, at least a computer keyboard 3b set on top of the panel 3 is exposed for an operator 13 illustrated in fig. 2.
• a bearer 9, 10 for supporting a flat-panel display 11 in various positions in the working space 20.
• the bearer 9, 10 of the display 11 is at such an angle relative to the operator 13 that the display 11 falls effortlessly within a visual field 13a of the operator 13.
• the bearer comprises a circular frame member 9 of bent metal bar, defining a planar zone within which is fitted a suspension member 10 having e.g. a mesh-like structure.
• the flat-panel display 11 can be supported from the suspension member 10.
• the suspension member 10 is provided with a separate clamping element 10a or strap for securing the display 11 in place. It is visualised in fig.
• the actual frame member 9, which thus carries the display 11 along with itself, is adapted to hang by its elongated top portion codirectional with the crossbar 2b through the intermediary of coupling elements 8 provided in the crossbar 2b in engagement with the crossbar 2b. Consequently, the frame member 9 has a top portion which constitutes an elongated swivel axle about which the remainder of the frame member 9 is capable of rotating as supported by the coupling elements 8.
• the frame member 9 and the suspension member 10 may be subjected to a multitude of modifications in structural sense.
• the frame member 9 has its bottom portion consisting of two hook-shaped engagement elements 7 spaced from each other.
• a single engagement element 7 constitutes a pivot axle or joint, which is parallel to a swivel axle constituted by the top portion of the frame member 9.
• fastening lugs 4 extending downwards from the bottom surface of the keyboard panel 3.
• joints having pivot axes which are parallel to the swivel axle constituted by the top portion of the frame member 9. In horizontal direction, these axes extend in a lateral sense of the table.
• the element 1 here includes two swing arms 5a, 5b.
• the swing arm 5a, 5b is preferably substantially in the shape of the letter L and it is bent from a preferably plate-like piece to a 90-degree angle.
• it comprises a strip-like vertical lip 5a, as well as a strip-like face lip 5b disposed at an angle relative thereto.
• the swing arm 5a, 5b is connected at the vertical lip's 5a bottom end to the joint 7 and at the vertical lip's 5a top end to the fastening lug 4.
• the face lips 5b provide engagement surfaces essentially towards the operator 13 for removably attaching a front wall 6 thereto.
• the front wall 6 connects the two spaced-apart swing arms 5a, 5b to each other.
• the front wall 6 conceals and protects the element's 1 above-described components housed in the working space 20, and the display 11.
• the front wall 6 or the kickplate can also be permanently attached to the swing arms 5a, 5b.
• the front panel 6 may also function as a part of the swing arm, which in this case consists of a front panel 6 and articulation lugs secured thereto. Between the front panel's 6 bottom end and the joint 7 must be provided a sufficient distance in order to prevent the front panel 6 from colliding with the display 11 in a storage position. In the present case, this is accomplished by designing the vertical lip's 5a bottom end with a sufficient width.
• FIGs. 4A and 4B illustrate an optional embodiment for the structure of a swing arm and a front cover, which in this instance are preferably manufactured from a wire mesh.
• the wire mesh or some other rigid material has been used for reticulated vertical lips 5a for the swing arm and a reticulated front cover 6' left therebetween.
• the reticulated structure has its bottom portion, which is left below the joint 7, designed as a cord basket 14 for placing cords and the like therein.
• the front cover 6', the swing arms 5a, and the cord basket 14 are made by bending from a single-piece mesh structure.

Landscapes

• Devices For Indicating Variable Information By Combining Individual Elements (AREA)
• Apparatus For Radiation Diagnosis (AREA)
• Inorganic Insulating Materials (AREA)
• Slot Machines And Peripheral Devices (AREA)
• Input From Keyboards Or The Like (AREA)
• Steroid Compounds (AREA)
• Electric Double-Layer Capacitors Or The Like (AREA)
• Amplifiers (AREA)
• Epoxy Resins (AREA)

Priority Applications (5)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Publications (1)

Family

ID=29763634

Family Applications (1)

Country Status (8)

Families Citing this family (1)

Citations (2)

Family Cites Families (16)

• 2003
  • 2003-12-12 FI FI20035234A patent/FI120816B/fi active IP Right Grant
• 2004
  • 2004-12-08 DE DE602004025736T patent/DE602004025736D1/de active Active
  • 2004-12-08 DK DK04805213.8T patent/DK1694160T3/da active
  • 2004-12-08 EP EP04805213A patent/EP1694160B1/en not_active Not-in-force
  • 2004-12-08 CN CNB2004800403469A patent/CN100506112C/zh not_active Expired - Fee Related
  • 2004-12-08 US US10/582,265 patent/US7963234B2/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
  • 2004-12-08 AT AT04805213T patent/ATE458422T1/de not_active IP Right Cessation
  • 2004-12-08 WO PCT/FI2004/050182 patent/WO2005055764A1/en active Application Filing

Patent Citations (2)

Also Published As

Similar Documents

Legal Events